A Father’s Wisdom for Today’s New Work World

By Mary Ann Faremouth, CPC

When I think about the first step in the Faremouth Method, “Do a Self-Inventory,” I realize that a great deal of who I am today is due to the important life lessons I learned while working for my Dad. As a career and placement coach, author, speaker, mother, and grandmother, and with Father’s Day right around the corner, I have been recalling those memories and the life lessons he taught me about how to succeed in the new work world and beyond.

My Dad was an interesting character. He moved to the States from the small island of Malta when he was 12 years old. He didn’t have much formal education, but he truly was one of the smartest men I’ve ever met. He had a high regard for formal education, however. He always told me stories about how proud he was of his cousin, Joe, who attended Oxford University.

After working in an assembly plant for Chrysler Corporation for many years, my Dad followed in the footsteps of other family members and opened a restaurant in a small suburb of Detroit, Melvindale. He opened the restaurant when I was 5 years old, and that opening holds such a sweet memory for me. I remember all the preparation involved in the event, and his sign, surrounded by lights, featured a picture of me holding a hamburger!

His restaurant was located very close to many of the automotive assembly plants, and his menu and service truly catered to the folks who worked there. He opened at 4 a.m. for breakfast to serve workers who started their shifts at 5 or 5:30 a.m. I started working for my Dad, waiting tables, when I was in high school, and because of the strong work ethic he taught me, I was able to pay cash for my first car, which was an almost-new Ford Mustang. My Dad isn’t with me in physical form any longer, but I know his spirit and love always surround me.

Here are five of the most important lessons I learned from working for my Dad. See if any of these resonate with you and give you inspiration and hope as YOU move forward into the New Work World!

1. Work Hard

I can best sum up what my Dad taught me in this quote by Thomas Edison: “The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are: hard work, stick-to-itiveness, and common sense.”

No matter where you are in your career journey, working hard and going above and beyond in your job will always serve you well. When an employer asks a job seeker, “What are you most proud of in your career?” and they describe how they went the extra mile to meet a deadline, came in early, stayed late, or did more than the job required, it makes all the difference. I always hear positive feedback when employers call me to discuss how interviews went with the candidates I sent them.

2. You Can Achieve Anything You Set Your Mind To, If You Have a Plan and Help Others Along the Way

My Dad was a big believer in planning. I remember working for him when a big parade was going to be held in the city of Melvindale. He sat with me and made a list of all the extra food, supplies, etc. he would need for the event. He also fed all of the people involved in setting up the parade at no charge. He told me that treating all the dignitaries in the city, including the police department, was a bit of an expense for him, but it would come back to him in a big way.

What are you doing in your own career to plan for your future? What can you do while in job-seeking mode that can help someone else? Could you volunteer at a job fair to help with setup? Could you join a non-profit organization like Toastmasters to improve your presentation skills and perhaps mentor someone who would benefit from your expertise in a specific area? Whatever generosity you offer will come back to you a thousandfold!

3. Make Smart Investments

My Dad was always big on investments. But it wasn’t only about the stock market. He taught me about investments of time, effort, relationships, etc.

What are you investing in that will yield results? If you have had four interviews in an industry that is not responding to you at this time, where else might your efforts garner results? Do you need to seek the counsel of a career consultant to help you transfer your skills into a new area or field that will produce more positive outcomes? Who do you know that might be connected to people who could open doors for you in a new venture? Invest in your future by stepping out of your comfort zone to secure the results you need.

4. Think Your Decisions Through

I clearly remember coming home for Christmas one year and needing to return to school to attend an important class for my graduation. The weather was horrible, and we had many inches of snow that made driving quite hazardous. I will never forget my Dad saying to me, “It won’t matter, Mary Ann, if you are the smartest gal in the graveyard.”

What are you doing right now that will help you gain the right results? Whether personal or professional, how can you think through your decisions carefully so that you achieve the right balance between risk and opportunity?

5. Never Stop Learning

I remember my sweet Dad, after he retired, sitting at the kitchen table and getting up early in the morning to comb through the newspaper. Whether it was at his home in Allen Park, Michigan, or his place in Florida, he always told me: “Mary Ann, you need to know what the hell is going on in the world. Never rest on your laurels. Always continue to learn. Don’t be afraid of failure, and keep working hard and learning all you can about what you do.”

In what ways are you willing to be a lifelong learner? How have you developed new skills or knowledge that might make you even more valuable to an employer, or even as a human being in a changing world?

This Father’s Day, think about what lessons you might have learned from your Dad or a father-like figure who made a positive impact on your life. I apply the lessons I learned from my Dad in every aspect of my career. As we all navigate this New Work World, we need all the great advice we can get to achieve positive and solid results.

Life is one big journey. Take the positive lessons you have gained and stay excited about moving forward! I miss my Dad dearly, but I know his powerful lessons will always be a constant in my life, and I’m grateful for the wonderful wisdom he taught me.

Mary Ann’s award-winning first book Revolutionary Recruiting has been listed by Book Authority as Number #1 Best 100 Recruiting Books; #1 Best Seller, Non-Fiction, Amazon (2019); Top 20 Recruiting books, Recruitics; Readers’ Choice finalist (2019), Houston Literary Awards; Best Non-Fiction (2018), Best Cover (2019), and Best Self-Help (2018), Authors Marketing Guild. This was followed by “Revolutionary Reinvention”, a workbook for job seekers giving advice on how to rediscover your skills and passions and reinvent your career. Her most recent book is “Revolutionary Results” , a collection of life lessons about relationships, integrity and contributing to the world.